Health Minister clarifies on DPH circular

Health Minister K.G. Arunraj on Monday clarified that the recent circular issued by the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine restricting government employees from publicly criticising government policies was not new but reiterated provisions already contained in the conduct rules for government employees.Responding to a question on the circular, he told reporters, “They can raise demands and organise protests relating to salary increase and permanent jobs. There is no connection between this and the circular. The intention of the circular is that the employees should not criticise the government’s policies. There are no attempts to deny their rights.”There is a fine difference between criticising the government’s schemes and raising their department-related reasonable demands, the Minister said.Taking part in an event to mark the Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention Day, he said that it is mandatory to iodise salt and that food safety officials took up periodic inspections to check if iodised salt was being sold. Fine to the tune of nearly Rs. 1.39 crore has been imposed and collected from shops for failing to sell iodised salt.Stressing on the need to consume iodised salt, he said that iodine deficiency disorders such as goitre were more prevalent in districts such as Villupuram, Thanjavur, Madurai, Ramanathapuram and Pudukottai.In another event, the Minister presented appointment orders to 33 senior entomologists selected through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission. Published - October 27, 2026 12:32 am IST